A Comparative and Critical Analysis for In Vitro Cytotoxic Evaluation of Magneto-Crystalline Zinc Ferrite Nanoparticles Using MTT, Crystal Violet, LDH, and Apoptosis Assay.

Zinc ferrite nanoparticles (ZFO NPs) are a promising magneto-crystalline platform for nanomedicine-based cancer theranostics. ZFO NPs synthesized using co-precipitation method are characterized using different techniques. UV-visible spectroscopy exhibits absorption peaks specific for ZFO. Raman spectroscopy identifies Raman active, infrared active, and silent vibrational modes while Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopic (FTIR) spectra display IR active modes that confirm the presence of ZFO. X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD) exhibits the crystalline planes of single-phase ZFO with a face-centered cubic structure that coincides with the selected area electron diffraction pattern (SAED). The average particle size according to high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) is 5.6 nm. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) signals confirm the chemical states of Fe, Zn, and O. A superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) displays the magnetic response of ZFO NPs, showing a magnetic moment of 45.5 emu/gm at 70 kOe. These ZFO NPs were then employed for comparative cytotoxicity evaluation using MTT, crystal violet, and LDH assays on breast adenocarcinoma epithelial cell (MCF-7), triple-negative breast cancer lines (MDA-MB 231), and human embryonic kidney cell lines (HEK-293). Flow cytometric analysis of all the three cell lines were performed in various concentrations of ZFO NPs for automated cell counting and sorting based on live cells, cells entering in early or late apoptotic phase, as well as in the necrotic phase. This analysis confirmed that ZFO NPs are more cytotoxic towards triple-negative breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) as compared to breast adenocarcinoma cells (MCF-7) and normal cell lines (HEK-293), thus corroborating that ZFO can be exploited for cancer therapeutics.

Survival of NSCLC Patients Treated with Cimavax-EGF as Switch Maintenance in the Real-World Scenario.

Introduction: In Cuba, lung cancer represents the first cause of mortality for both sexes. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most prevalent histology. Overall, 75-85% of NSCLC overexpress EGFR and its ligands. EGFR overexpression has been implicated in the malignant transformation by promoting cell proliferation and survival. CIMAvax-EGF is a therapeutic vaccine composed of recombinant-human EGF conjugated to a carrier protein and Montanide as an adjuvant. CIMAvax-EGF is intended to induce antibodies against self-EGF that block the EGF-EGFR interaction. Objectives: To characterize the efficacy and safety of CIMAvax-EGF as maintenance in NSCLC patients treated in the real-world setting. Results: 106 patients diagnosed with advanced NSCLC at the National Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology, who had at least stable disease after first-line therapy, were enrolled in the study. The initial four CIMAvax-EGF doses were administered every 2 weeks and then, patients received monthly re-immunizations. Globally, 52.8% of the patients were 65 years or older, 77.4% had an ECOG 1 and 62.3% had an adenocarcinoma. The median survival time (MST) was 14.6 months. Patients younger than 65 years had a MST of 16.7 months and subjects with ECOG 0 survived for 29 months. The median progression-free survival was 8.16 months. Overall, 36.8% and 19.8% of patients maintained disease control at 6 and 12 months, respectively. The most frequent adverse events were pain (27.3%) or induration (7.3%) at the injection site and local erythema (10.9%). Conclusion: CIMAvax-EGF, as an EGF depleting immunotherapy used as switch-maintenance was safe and effective in patients with NSCLC.

Comparative analysis of acoustic therapies for tinnitus treatment based on auditory event-related potentials.

Introduction: So far, Auditory Event-Related Potential (AERP) features have been used to characterize neural activity of patients with tinnitus. However, these EEG patterns could be used to evaluate tinnitus evolution as well. The aim of the present study is to propose a methodology based on AERPs to evaluate the effectiveness of four acoustic therapies for tinnitus treatment. Methods: The acoustic therapies were: (1) Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT), (2) Auditory Discrimination Therapy (ADT), (3) Therapy for Enriched Acoustic Environment (TEAE), and (4) Binaural Beats Therapy (BBT). In addition, relaxing music was included as a placebo for both: tinnitus sufferers and healthy individuals. To meet this aim, 103 participants were recruited, 53% were females and 47% were males. All the participants were treated for 8 weeks with one of these five sounds, which were moreover tuned in accordance with the acoustic features of their tinnitus (if applied) and hearing loss. They were electroencephalographically monitored before and after their acoustic therapy, and wherefrom AERPs were estimated. The sound effect of acoustic therapies was evaluated by examining the area under the curve of those AERPs. Two parameters were obtained: (1) amplitude and (2) topographical distribution. Results: The findings of the investigation showed that after an 8-week treatment, TRT and ADT, respectively achieved significant neurophysiological changes over somatosensory and occipital regions. On one hand, TRT increased the tinnitus perception. On the other hand, ADT redirected the tinnitus attention, what in turn diminished the tinnitus perception. Tinnitus handicapped inventory outcomes verified these neurophysiological findings, revealing that 31% of patients in each group reported that TRT increased tinnitus perception, but ADT diminished it. Discussion: Tinnitus has been identified as a multifactorial condition highly associated with hearing loss, age, sex, marital status, education, and even, employment. However, no conclusive evidence has been found yet. In this study, a significant (but low) correlation was found between tinnitus intensity and right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, heart rate, area under the curve of AERPs, and acoustic therapy. This study raises the possibility to assign acoustic therapies by neurophysiological response of patient.

Comparative Colorimetric Sensor Based on Bi-Phase γ-/α-Fe2O3 and γ-/α-Fe2O3/ZnO Nanoparticles for Lactate Detection.

This work reports on Fe2O3 and ZnO materials for lactate quantification. In the synthesis, the bi-phase γ-/α-Fe2O3 and γ-/α-Fe2O3/ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) were obtained for their application in a lactate colorimetric sensor. The crystalline phases of the NPs were analyzed by XRD and XPS techniques. S/TEM images showed spheres with an 18 nm average and a needle length from 125 to 330 nm and 18 nm in diameter. The γ-/α-Fe2O3 and γ-/α-Fe2O3/ZnO were used to evaluate the catalytic activity of peroxidase with the substrate 3,3,5,5-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB), obtaining a linear range of 50 to 1000 µM for both NPs, and a 4.3 µM and 9.4 µM limit of detection (LOD), respectively. Moreover, γ-/α-Fe2O3 and γ-/α-Fe2O3/ZnO/lactate oxidase with TMB assays in the presence of lactate showed a linear range of 50 to 1000 µM, and both NPs proved to be highly selective in the presence of interferents. Finally, a sample of human serum was also tested, and the results were compared with a commercial lactometer. The use of ZnO with Fe2O3 achieved a greater response toward lactate oxidation reaction, and has implementation in a lactate colorimetric sensor using materials that are economically accessible and easy to synthesize.

Isolation and Identification of a Bacillus sp. from Freshwater Sediment Displaying Potent Activity Against Bacteria and Phytopathogen Fungi.

A bacterium strain isolated from freshwater sediment of San Pablo river of Santiago de Cuba, Cuba was identified as a Bacillus sp. by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time Of Flight Mass Spectrometry. A 16S rRNA gene analysis showed that the isolate A3 belongs to the operational group Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, while the phylogenetic analysis of the gyrA gene sequence grouped it within B. amyloliquefaciens subsp. plantarum cluster, referred now as Bacillus velezensis. In vitro antibacterial studies demonstrated the capacity of the isolate A3 to produce bioactive metabolites against Bacillus subtilis ATCC 11,778, Bacillus cereus ATCC 6633, and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25,923 by cross-streak, overlay, and microdilution methods. The strain also showed a high potential against the multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 700,699, ATCC 29,213, and ATCC 6538. At pH 8 and 96 h in the medium 2 of A3 culture conditions, the produced metabolites with antibacterial potential were enhanced. Some alterations in the morphology of the phytopathogens Aspergillus niger ATCC 9642, Alternaria alternata CECT 2662, and Fusarium solani CCEBI 3094 were induced by the cell-free supernatant of B. velezensis A3. A preliminary study of the nature of the bioactive compounds produced by the strain A3 showed the presence of both lipids and peptides in the culture. Those results highlight B. velezensis A3 as a promissory bacterium capable to produce bioactive metabolites with antibacterial and antifungal properties against pathogens.

Facile Synthesis of Unsupported Pd Aerogel for High Performance Formic Acid Microfluidic Fuel Cell.

In this work, unsupported Pd aerogel catalysts were synthesized for the very first time by using microwaves as a heating source followed by a lyophilization drying process and used towards formic acid electro-oxidation in a microfluidic fuel cell. Aerogels were also made by heating in a conventional oven to evaluate the microwave effect during the synthesis process of the unsupported Pd aerogels. The performance of the catalysts obtained by means of microwave heating favored the formic acid electro-oxidation with H2SO4 as the electrolyte. The aerogels' performance as anodic catalysts was carried out in a microfluidic fuel cell, giving power densities of up to 14 mW cm-2 when using mass loads of only 0.1 mg on a 0.019 cm2 electrode surface. The power densities of the aerogels obtained by microwave heating gave a performance superior to the resultant aerogel prepared using conventional heating and even better than a commercial Pd/C catalyst.

Three-Dimensional-Order Macroporous AB2O4 Spinels (A, B =Co and Mn) as Electrodes in Zn-Air Batteries.

In this work, atomically substituted three-dimensionally ordered macroporous (3DOM) spinels based on Co and Mn (MnCo2O4 and CoMn2O4) were synthetized and used as cathodic electrocatalysts in a primary Zn-air battery. Scanning/transmission electron microscopy images show a 3DOM structure for both materials. Skeleton sizes of 114.4 and 140.8 nm and surface areas of 65.3 and 74.6 m2 g-1 were found for MnCo2O4 and CoMn2O4, respectively. The increase in surface area and higher presence of Mn3+ and Mn4+ species in the CoMn2O4 3DOM material improved battery performance with a maximum power density of 101.6 mW cm-2 and a specific capacity of 1440 mA h g-1, which shows the highest battery performance reported to date using similar spinel materials. The stability performance of the electrocatalyst was evaluated in half-cell and battery cell systems, showing the higher durability of CoMn2O4, which was related to its better capability to perform the electrocatalytic process as adsorption, electron transfer, and desorption. It was found through density functional theory calculations that the CoMn2O4 spinel has a higher density of states in the Fermi level vicinity and better conductivity. Finally, the unique shape of 3DOM spinels promoted a high interaction between electroactive species and catalytic sites, making them suitable for oxygen reduction reaction applications.

Electrochemical Study of a Hybrid Polymethyl Methacrylate Coating using SiO2 Nanoparticles toward the Mitigation of the Corrosion in Marine Environments.

The demand for hydrophobic polymer-based protective coatings to impart high corrosion resistance has increased recently. The increase of the hydrophobicity in a hybrid coating is a new challenge, for that reason and in order to protect a metallic surface of oxidant agents, a poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) coating with the addition of a different amount of silicon dioxide (SiO2) was developed. The hybrid coating was applied on a sample of stainless steel AISI 304 by the dip-coating method. The characterization of the coatings was determined by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and with a scanning electrochemical microscopy. The best coatings were PMMA and PMMA + SiO2 0.01% that exhibits a real impedance in the Nyquist diagram of 760 and 427,800 MΩ⋅cm2, respectively, and the modulus of the real impedance in the Bode diagram present values of 2.2 × 108 and 3.3 × 108 Ω⋅cm2. Moreover, the phase angle presents constant values around 75° to 85° and 85° for the PMMA and PMMA + SiO2 0.01%, respectively. Moreover, the values of the real resistance for the PMMA + SiO2 0.01% coating present values in the order of Mega-ohms despite the coating exhibits an artificial defect in their surface. The contact angle test showed that the hydrophobicity of the hybrid PMMA + SiO2 0.01% coating is higher than that of the pure PMMA coatings. The hybrid PMMA + SiO2 coatings developed in this work are a very interesting and promising area of study in order to develop efficient products to protect metallic surfaces from corrosion phenomenon.

Impact of the anodization time on the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 nanotubes.

Titanium oxide nanotubes (TNTs) were anodically grown in ethylene glycol electrolyte. The influence of the anodization time on their physicochemical and photoelectrochemical properties was evaluated. Concomitant with the anodization time, the NT length, fluorine content, and capacitance of the space charge region increased, affecting the opto-electronic properties (bandgap, bathochromic shift, band-edge position) and surface hydrophilicity of TiO2 NTs. These properties are at the origin of the photocatalytic activity (PCA), as proved with the photooxidation of methylene blue.

Histiocitoma fibroso maligno metastásico en estómago / Metastatic malignant fibrous histiocytoma in the stomach

El histiocitoma fibroso maligno es el sarcoma de partes blandas más frecuente de la adultez tardía. Se desarrolla habitualmente en los miembros inferiores y en el retroperitoneo. Su pronóstico es malo, la recidiva local y las metástasis a distancia. Se presenta el caso de un paciente con metástasis en el estómago de un histiocitoma fibroso maligno. El objetivo de esta publicación es la presentación de una forma poco común de diseminación metastásica del histiocitoma fibroso maligno(AU)

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma is the most common soft tissue sarcoma of late adult life. It usually develops in the lower extremities and in the retroperitonium. Prognosis is fairly poor; local relapse and distant metastasis are the common natural history. The is presented of a patient with stomach metastasis of malignant fibrous histiocytoma. This paper is aimed at presenting a rare way of metastatic dissemination of the malignant fibrous histiocytoma(AU)

Adenocarcinoma gástrico y tumor estromal del estómago sincrónico incidental / Gastric adenocarcinoma and incidental synchronous incidental gastrointestinal stromal tumor

Se presenta el caso de un paciente masculino de 73 años de edad operado por adenocarcinoma del antro gástrico. Se practicó gastrectomía subtotal distal más linfadenectomía D2. Durante el examen anatomopatológico de la pieza quirúrgica se encontró otro tumor pequeño en el espesor de la pared del antro cubierto por mucosa normal, separado del adenocarcinoma. El análisis histológico confirmó otra neoplasia incidental sincrónica, un tumor del estroma gastrointestinal de tipo fusiforme, positivo para el marcador tumoral CD117. El objetivo del trabajo es presentar esta asociación tumoral sincrónica, revisar sus características y las teorías etiopatogénicas actuales de esta condición sincrónica según la literatura especializada(AU)

A case is presented of a 73-year-old male patient who was operated for a gastric adenocarcinoma of the antrum. A distal subtotal gastrectomy plus D2 lymphadenectomy were practiced. During the anatomic and pathologic examination of the surgical piece, a second tiny tumor was found in the wall of the antrum and that was covered with a normal mucosa separated from the adenocarcinoma. The histologic examination confirmed another synchronous incidental neoplasm, a spindle-cell gastrointestinal stromal tumor, positive for the tumor marker CD117. This paper is aimed at presenting synchronous tumor entity, to review its characteristics and the current etiologic and pathogenic theories of this synchronic condition according to the specialized literature(AU)

Histiocitoma fibroso maligno metastásico en estómago / Metastatic malignant fibrous histiocytoma in the stomach

El histiocitoma fibroso maligno es el sarcoma de partes blandas más frecuente de la adultez tardía. Se desarrolla habitualmente en los miembros inferiores y en el retroperitoneo. Su pronóstico es malo, la recidiva local y las metástasis a distancia. Se presenta el caso de un paciente con metástasis en el estómago de un histiocitoma fibroso maligno. El objetivo de esta publicación es la presentación de una forma poco común de diseminación metastásica del histiocitoma fibroso maligno(AU)

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma is the most common soft tissue sarcoma of late adult life. It usually develops in the lower extremities and in the retroperitonium. Prognosis is fairly poor; local relapse and distant metastasis are the common natural history. The is presented of a patient with stomach metastasis of malignant fibrous histiocytoma. This paper is aimed at presenting a rare way of metastatic dissemination of the malignant fibrous histiocytoma(AU)

Adenocarcinoma gástrico y tumor estromal del estómago sincrónico incidental / Gastric adenocarcinoma and incidental synchronous incidental gastrointestinal stromal tumor

Se presenta el caso de un paciente masculino de 73 años de edad operado por adenocarcinoma del antro gástrico. Se practicó gastrectomía subtotal distal más linfadenectomía D2. Durante el examen anatomopatológico de la pieza quirúrgica se encontró otro tumor pequeño en el espesor de la pared del antro cubierto por mucosa normal, separado del adenocarcinoma. El análisis histológico confirmó otra neoplasia incidental sincrónica, un tumor del estroma gastrointestinal de tipo fusiforme, positivo para el marcador tumoral CD117. El objetivo del trabajo es presentar esta asociación tumoral sincrónica, revisar sus características y las teorías etiopatogénicas actuales de esta condición sincrónica según la literatura especializada(AU)

A case is presented of a 73-year-old male patient who was operated for a gastric adenocarcinoma of the antrum. A distal subtotal gastrectomy plus D2 lymphadenectomy were practiced. During the anatomic and pathologic examination of the surgical piece, a second tiny tumor was found in the wall of the antrum and that was covered with a normal mucosa separated from the adenocarcinoma. The histologic examination confirmed another synchronous incidental neoplasm, a spindle-cell gastrointestinal stromal tumor, positive for the tumor marker CD117. This paper is aimed at presenting synchronous tumor entity, to review its characteristics and the current etiologic and pathogenic theories of this synchronic condition according to the specialized literature(AU)

Osificación heterotópica de cicatriz de laparotomía / Heterotopic ossification in laparotomy scar

Se presenta el caso de un paciente masculino de 54 años de edad operado en dos ocasiones por adenocarcinoma gástrico, a quien se le encontró una masa ósea de la cicatriz de la línea media abdominal que fue resecada. El análisis histológico confirmó una formación ósea madura. Este hallazgo llama la atención sobre la formación ósea en las cicatrices quirúrgicas. Debe hacerse diagnóstico diferencial con recidivas metastásicas de la cicatriz quirúrgica de aparición posterior a cirugía abdominal por cáncer. Se analizó la patogenia según la literatura especializada. El objetivo del trabajo fue presentar una entidad poco frecuente y revisar las teorías etiopatogénicas actuales de esta condición morbosa(AU)

A case is reported of a 54-year-old male patient operated twice for gastric adenocarcinoma, who was found to have a bone mass of the midline abdominal scar that was removed. Histological analysis confirmed mature bone formation. This finding draws attention to bone formation in surgical scars. Differential diagnosis should be made with metastatic relapses of the surgical scar that appears after abdominal surgery for cancer. Pathogenesis was analyzed according to the specialized literature. The objective of this study was to present a rare entity and to review current etiopathogenic theories of this morbid condition(AU)

Osificación heterotópica de cicatriz de laparotomía / Heterotopic ossification in laparotomy scar

Se presenta el caso de un paciente masculino de 54 años de edad operado en dos ocasiones por adenocarcinoma gástrico, a quien se le encontró una masa ósea de la cicatriz de la línea media abdominal que fue resecada. El análisis histológico confirmó una formación ósea madura. Este hallazgo llama la atención sobre la formación ósea en las cicatrices quirúrgicas. Debe hacerse diagnóstico diferencial con recidivas metastásicas de la cicatriz quirúrgica de aparición posterior a cirugía abdominal por cáncer. Se analizó la patogenia según la literatura especializada. El objetivo del trabajo fue presentar una entidad poco frecuente y revisar las teorías etiopatogénicas actuales de esta condición morbosa(AU)

A case is reported of a 54-year-old male patient operated twice for gastric adenocarcinoma, who was found to have a bone mass of the midline abdominal scar that was removed. Histological analysis confirmed mature bone formation. This finding draws attention to bone formation in surgical scars. Differential diagnosis should be made with metastatic relapses of the surgical scar that appears after abdominal surgery for cancer. Pathogenesis was analyzed according to the specialized literature. The objective of this study was to present a rare entity and to review current etiopathogenic theories of this morbid condition(AU)

User Experience May be Producing Greater Heart Rate Variability than Motor Imagery Related Control Tasks during the User-System Adaptation in Brain-Computer Interfaces.

Brain-computer interface (BCI) is technology that is developing fast, but it remains inaccurate, unreliable and slow due to the difficulty to obtain precise information from the brain. Consequently, the involvement of other biosignals to decode the user control tasks has risen in importance. A traditional way to operate a BCI system is via motor imagery (MI) tasks. As imaginary movements activate similar cortical structures and vegetative mechanisms as a voluntary movement does, heart rate variability (HRV) has been proposed as a parameter to improve the detection of MI related control tasks. However, HR is very susceptible to body needs and environmental demands, and as BCI systems require high levels of attention, perceptual processing and mental workload, it is important to assess the practical effectiveness of HRV. The present study aimed to determine if brain and heart electrical signals (HRV) are modulated by MI activity used to control a BCI system, or if HRV is modulated by the user perceptions and responses that result from the operation of a BCI system (i.e., user experience). For this purpose, a database of 11 participants who were exposed to eight different situations was used. The sensory-cognitive load (intake and rejection tasks) was controlled in those situations. Two electrophysiological signals were utilized: electroencephalography and electrocardiography. From those biosignals, event-related (de-)synchronization maps and event-related HR changes were respectively estimated. The maps and the HR changes were cross-correlated in order to verify if both biosignals were modulated due to MI activity. The results suggest that HR varies according to the experience undergone by the user in a BCI working environment, and not because of the MI activity used to operate the system.

Orbitectomía en monobloque en un paciente con sarcoma neurogénico de la órbita / Single block orbitectomy in a patient with neurogenic orbital sarcoma

El sarcoma neurogénico es un tumor maligno que se origina en las células de Schwann de la vaina del revestimiento de los nervios periféricos y son poco frecuentes en la órbita. Se presenta un paciente de 23 años de edad, masculino, blanco, con antecedentes de neurofibromatosis tipo I, con desplazamiento anteroinferior del globo ocular izquierdo, dolor intenso y pérdida de la visión de 4 meses de evolución. Al examen oftalmológico se constató proptosis severa con descenso del globo ocular izquierdo, oftalmoplejia total, quemosis severa, hiperemia, opacidad corneal y aumento de volumen del párpado superior. En los estudios imagenológicos se evidenció lesión tumoral que ocupaba la totalidad del compartimiento orbitario sin infiltración de sus paredes óseas y con desplazamiento del globo ocular por fuera del reborde orbitario. Se realizó un abordaje quirúrgico combinado, y se logró una orbitectomía en monobloque con resección total del tumor y reconstrucción con colgajo rotado de músculo temporal ipsilateral. El estudio histopatológico informó la presencia de un sarcoma neurogénico de la órbita y se complementó con tratamiento adyuvante con radioterapia. El paciente se mantuvo controlado durante un año y a partir de esta fecha comenzó la aparición secuencial de varias lesiones a distancia(AU)

Neurogenic sarcoma is a malignant tumor that starts in Schwann cells of the peripheral nerves sheath and is rarely found in the orbit. Here is a 23 year old, male, Caucasian patient, with a history of Type-I Neurofibromatosis, and a left eye fore and lower side displacement of the left eyeball, intense pain and loss of vision for 4 months. A severe proptosis and the lowering of the left eyeball was detected during the ophthalmologic examination, as well as total ophthalmoplegia, severe chemosis, hyperemia, corneal opacity and increased upper eyelid volume. Imaging studies revealed a tumor lesion occupying the whole orbital compartment, with no bone wall infiltration, but causing the displacement of the eyeball out of the orbit border. A combined surgical approach was performed consisting in a single block orbitectomy with total tumor resection, as well as the reconstruction with the ipsilateral temporal muscle rotated flap. The histopathology study showed the presence of an neurogenic orbital sarcoma, so an adjuvant radiotherapy treatment was indicated. The patient was followed up for a year, after which the sequential occurrence of several lesions began(AU)

Orbitectomía en monobloque en un paciente con sarcoma neurogénico de la órbita / Single block orbitectomy in a patient with neurogenic orbital sarcoma

El sarcoma neurogénico es un tumor maligno que se origina en las células de Schwann de la vaina del revestimiento de los nervios periféricos y son poco frecuentes en la órbita. Se presenta un paciente de 23 años de edad, masculino, blanco, con antecedentes de neurofibromatosis tipo I, con desplazamiento anteroinferior del globo ocular izquierdo, dolor intenso y pérdida de la visión de 4 meses de evolución. Al examen oftalmológico se constató proptosis severa con descenso del globo ocular izquierdo, oftalmoplejia total, quemosis severa, hiperemia, opacidad corneal y aumento de volumen del párpado superior. En los estudios imagenológicos se evidenció lesión tumoral que ocupaba la totalidad del compartimiento orbitario sin infiltración de sus paredes óseas y con desplazamiento del globo ocular por fuera del reborde orbitario. Se realizó un abordaje quirúrgico combinado, y se logró una orbitectomía en monobloque con resección total del tumor y reconstrucción con colgajo rotado de músculo temporal ipsilateral. El estudio histopatológico informó la presencia de un sarcoma neurogénico de la órbita y se complementó con tratamiento adyuvante con radioterapia. El paciente se mantuvo controlado durante un año y a partir de esta fecha comenzó la aparición secuencial de varias lesiones a distancia(AU)

Neurogenic sarcoma is a malignant tumor that starts in Schwann cells of the peripheral nerves sheath and is rarely found in the orbit. Here is a 23 year old, male, Caucasian patient, with a history of Type-I Neurofibromatosis, and a left eye fore and lower side displacement of the left eyeball, intense pain and loss of vision for 4 months. A severe proptosis and the lowering of the left eyeball was detected during the ophthalmologic examination, as well as total ophthalmoplegia, severe chemosis, hyperemia, corneal opacity and increased upper eyelid volume. Imaging studies revealed a tumor lesion occupying the whole orbital compartment, with no bone wall infiltration, but causing the displacement of the eyeball out of the orbit border. A combined surgical approach was performed consisting in a single block orbitectomy with total tumor resection, as well as the reconstruction with the ipsilateral temporal muscle rotated flap. The histopathology study showed the presence of an neurogenic orbital sarcoma, so an adjuvant radiotherapy treatment was indicated. The patient was followed up for a year, after which the sequential occurrence of several lesions began(AU)

The Importance of the Mentor-Mentee Relationship in Women's Desistance From Destructive Behaviors.

According to the literature on desistance, the process of reentering society after imprisonment is distinct from the process of desistance as the former is a broader, institutional process that may influence the latter. Scholars have also acknowledged gendered differences in both reentry and desistance processes. Among the array of players in the lives of formerly incarcerated individuals, mentors have become an increasingly popular form of social support in postincarceration programs--particularly for women in reentry. Given the increasing interest in mentoring programs, this study uses semistructured interviews with mentors (n= 10) and clients (n= 11) in a women's postincarceration mentoring program to assess the role of mentors in the reentry process and the desistance process. It was found that mentors aid in these processes by serving as facilitators of change for women who are open to such change and by facilitating in constructive behavioral adjustments.

Los determinantes sociales: base para la elaboración de políticas públicas de salud / Social determinants: basis for the development of public health policies

Este artículo describe la importancia de la elaboración de políticas públicas de salud considerando losdeterminantes sociales de la salud. Hace una revisión histórica de los orígenes y evolución de ésteimportante tema. El enfoque de determinantes sociales de la salud registra sus orígenes desde laantigüedad, con un auge en la década de los 60-70, sin embargo, cada día cobra mayor importancia yrelevancia, producto del crecimiento y desarrollo económico que en muchas ocasiones vieneacompañado de la inequidad. Se plantea la necesidad de elaborar políticas públicas saludables queaborden las causas de los problemas de salud y no sus consecuencias; que se generen políticas destinadasa disminuir la inequidad y favorecer un desarrollo económico y social sostenible. La distribucióndesigual, a nivel mundial y nacional, del poder y los ingresos afectan las condiciones de vida de lapoblación (acceso a la atención sanitaria, educación, condiciones de trabajo, vivienda y tiempo libre), queen su conjunto son perjudiciales para la salud. Necesitamos abordar los problemas de salud, con uncrecimiento económico acompañado de políticas sociales adecuadas que aseguren que sus beneficiossean equitativos y contribuyan por ende a la equidad sanitaria.

This article describes the importance of developing public health policies considering the approach tosocial determinants of health this is a historical review of the origins and evolution of this importanttopic. The focus of social determinants of heal three cords from ancient time to origins, with a boom inthe decade of the 60´s-70´s , but each day becomes more important and relevant, the product of economicgrowth and development that often comes with inequality. This raises the need to develop public policies that address the causes of health problems and theirconsequences, to generate health policies to reduce inequality and promote sustainable economic andsocial development. The uneven distribution, global and national of income affect the living conditionsof the population (access to health care, education, working conditions, housing and leisure), whichtogether are harmful to health. We need to address health problems, with economic grow that accompanied by appropriate socialpolicies to ensure that it benefits are equitable and this contribute to health equity.